Chronic Pain and Ketamine

Ketamine by far is one of the most versatile drugs, being praised by some for its chameleon like quality to treat a wide range of disorders. Most recently ketamine is getting attention for its effectiveness in outpatient settings to treat chronic pain.

Similar to its use for treatment resistant depression, ketamine is being used to address treatment resistant pain that is not well-controlled with usual medication. Chronic pain is the most common cause of long-term disability and is generally described as pain that lasts more than three to six months. Researchers have found that when given in low doses by intravenous IV, ketamine works to combat pain by acting against the chemical receptor NMDA to do more than just dull the pain but to reboot the brain’s neurotransmitters.

Patients who respond to treatment may need to continue maintenance IV ketamine therapy to keep pain symptoms under control, so the number of treatments needed to achieve remission vary from patient to patient.

The goal of pain management is for patients to comfortably, breathe, sleep, move, and perform personal care activities. For patients who suffer from chronic pain, the aim of therapy is to return them to as close to normal functioning as possible. Although ketamine infusions for chronic pain aids in the treatment of pain, doctors caution patients to have realistic expectations for pain control and to be mindful that it is not a universal cure. Also, for those with existing medical conditions including heart & liver disease, glaucoma, and elevated intracranial pressure, ketamine is not recommended- so talk to your doctor.

If you or someone you love is suffering from chronic pain, contact the experienced ketamine professionals at KureIV to find out if you can benefit from this treatment option. Call now to request your free consultation today!